Pacific Forum

🚨 New Pacific Forum Publication — The Pilot #49

has released #49 – China falls short as a Global South "public goods" provider by Oorja Tapan, Senior Research Fellow at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. In light of the released by on the in June, the piece explores the nature of the provision of goods China claims to offer and its competition with for trust.

📖 Review our and read the article: https://pacforum.org/publications/the-pilot-49-china-falls-short-as-a-global-south-public-goods-provider/

🌐 Yan Xuan, Senior Fellow, was quoted in a South China Morning Post article from the CUHK Business School on the discussion surrounding at the CEO Forum in in April, where he was a panelist.

At the forum, Yan expressed his belief that Hong Kong has successfully solidified its identity as an anchor.

"The winning formula for Hong Kong," he said, "is to maintain and enhance its vital role in upholding predictability, consistency, the common law system and the tradition of respecting contractual rights."

🔗 Read the article:

The GBA is optimised for AI to achieve its full potential Discussion panels at the Greater Bay Area CEO Forum establish fiscal, digital, and consumer strengths that make it the ideal AI habitat

📰🇺🇸🇯🇵 New Op-Ed by David Santoro in Nikkei Asia

President & CEO David Santoro has a new piece in Nikkei Asia: "A six-point plan to make the US-Japan alliance battle-ready."

His central argument: a partnership of equals requires joint planning, joint production, and joint deterrence.

As the Indo-Pacific strategic environment grows more contested, the US-Japan alliance cannot rest on political declarations alone.

David outlines six concrete steps to close the gap between commitment and capability.

📖 Read the full article:

A six-point plan to make the US-Japan alliance battle-ready A partnership of equals needs joint planning, production and deterrence

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Your belief in our mission allows us to stay focused, stay independent, and keep working toward a more stable, connected region.
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Your support enables us to stay independent, amplify diverse voices, and promote solutions rooted in diplomacy and international understanding.

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🚀 Applications are now open for the Japan–U.S. Technology Policy Fellowship (JUST) — Non-Resident.

is seeking the next generation of leaders committed to advancing Japan–U.S. cooperation in critical and emerging technologies.

About the fellowship:
▸ Duration: Nine-month, non-resident
▸ Cohort: 10 emerging & mid-career professionals (5 from Japan, 5 from the U.S.)
▸ Focus: Semiconductors and other critical & emerging technologies
▸ Backgrounds: Government, industry, academia, think tanks, and civil society

Who should apply:
Early- to mid-career professionals with 2–7 years of relevant experience and an academic background in international relations, public policy, economics, or other social sciences — with a strong interest in advancing bilateral technology policy.

Selection is based on the quality of the proposed research project and relevant professional experience.

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2026 — 11:59 PM HST

🔗 Apply here: https://www.jotform.com/form/261797689164174

If you know someone who would be a strong fit, please tag them or share this post. 🌏

🔔 New Pacific Forum Publication — The Pilot #48

has released #48 – India must remain strategically autonomous in the Pax Silica framework by Rami Niranjan Desai, Distinguished Fellow at India Foundation, New Delhi. The piece considers how can position itself best within the framework it joined in February 2026, maintaining as well as its while shaping the future of the network.

🔗 Review our and read the article: https://pacforum.org/publications/the-pilot-48-india-must-remain-strategically-autonomous-in-the-pax-silica-framework/

🤝💡 Fellows Meet Samsung

Yesterday, our fellows had the opportunity to visit the Samsung office for an engaging discussion on semiconductors — one of the most strategically vital technologies shaping the future of the .

From global supply chains to cutting-edge innovation, the conversation offered our next generation of strategic thinkers valuable insight into the industry at the intersection of technology, economics, and security.

We're grateful to Samsung for hosting us and for such a thoughtful and forward-looking exchange. 🙏

⚓️ Remarks by chief Admiral Samuel Paparo at 2026 were mentioned in a Tech Times article discussing querying east of Taiwan and planned in response, written by Daniel Butler.

Paparo stated, "Their aggressive manoeuvres around Taiwan are not exercises, as they call them. They are rehearsals."

🔗 Read the article:

China's Coast Guard Rehearses Blockade Tools as Taiwan Plans Counter-Drills China’s coast guard activity east of Taiwan surged 83% in June to 55 government vessel sightings, as Beijing’s quasi-quarantine tactics threaten TSMC’s Pacific chip supply routes and prompt Taiwan to announce joint navy-coast guard drills. Converted former PLA destroyers now patrol in pairs wh...

🗞️ Remarks by chief Admiral Samuel Paparo at 2026 were mentioned in a Honolulu Star-Advertiser article discussing increased use of such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and drones at the latest exercise, written by Kevin Knodell.

Paparo said, "we need the capability to produce parts, from propellers to circuit boards, on demand. It isn't future tech; it's current capability … the technology exists. I've seen it, it's here in Hawaii, and we have to scale it."

📖 Read the full article here:

Military scales up 3D printing, drones and AI to supply RIMPAC forces | Honolulu Star-Advertiser During this year’s Rim of the Pacific, the biennial naval fighting exercise that brings ships and troops from across the world to Hawaii, 3D printers, drones and AI are taking center stage.